The Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition is now official. The 16GB version of the Galaxy S4 runs a stock Android operating system, and will be available Jun. 26 for $649.
The Google Edition of Samsung's flagship phone comes unlocked, with GSM, HSPA+ and LTE capabilities, so it can be used on AT&T or T-Mobile in the United States without a contract.
The phone certainly isn't for everyone, especially those who depend on carrier subsidies to afford the latest phones, but for anyone who can afford it and prefers a cleaner interface, this might be the best option for an Android phone on the market.
Samsung's TouchWiz interface is capable and offers plenty of options, but it's clunky at times and not particularly attractive. It also hogs plenty of system memory with Samsung branded apps that most people never use, an issue Samsung's been trying to address since people started noticing the 16GB Galaxy S4 only had less than 9GB of free space available.
Google also promises swift updates to the OS, which should be easier since they created it in the first place. Carriers need to make their own tweaks to the latest software to incorporate their own proprietary features, which can take months before hitting the market.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 features a 1.6GHz eight-core Exynos 5 Octa processor or a 1.9GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor (depending on country), 2GB of RAM, a 5-inch 1920x1080 Full HD AMOLED display at 441 ppi, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with 1080p HD video, a 2-megapixel front facing camera, internal storage between 16 and 64GB, an SD card slot that can accommodate an additional 64GB, a polycarbonate body, Smart Pause and floating touch tech and runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.
Check back for the latest info on the Galaxy S4 as it becomes available.
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
